Compact hair dryer with replaceable styling attachments

ABSTRACT

A hair dryer has a cylindrical body with an open forward end. A turbine-like fan, a motor and a heater within the housing are powered by a power source in the housing. Several attachments may be replaceably substituted on the housing to achieve different functions, including: a retractable bristle brush through which air can flow from the cylindrical body; a comb having a hollow spine with a plurality of hollow teeth projecting from one side thereof and through which air can flow from the body; and a flexible nozzle that is bendable to direct air from the cylindrical housing in a desired direction. The nozzle has an outer end constructed to form a plurality of axially projecting fingers that can be used to separate hair as it is being dried with the dryer.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 61/209,378, filed Mar. 6, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hair dryers, and more particularly to a compact blower for drying hair, wherein replaceable styling attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles, may be quickly and easily placed on the dryer.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of devices that blow air to dry hair are known in the prior art. Some of these devices include styling attachments that enable the user to style the hair while it is being dried. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 6,775,922, 6,782,636, 6,922,909, 7,124,763 and 7,264,004. These devices tend to be bulky and inconvenient to carry. They also are relatively complex and expensive in construction and can be awkward to use.

Brushes for styling hair also are known in the art, including brushes having a round cross-section, with bristles projecting radially outwardly from the brush around its circumference. These brushes are commonly used to curl hair by winding or wrapping the hair around the brush, and in most cases applying heat and/or one or more hair treatment solutions to set the curl. While such brushes are effective for the intended purpose, the disadvantage is that they are difficult to remove from the curl without disturbing it. The only way to remove the brush is to pull it axially out of the curl, either with or without first unrolling or partially unrolling the curl. In either event, strands of hair are enmeshed in the bristles of the brush and the curl or other style imparted to the hair is damaged.

In an effort to solve this problem, brushes have been designed that have retractable bristles so that after the curl is formed the bristles can be retracted and the brush pulled axially out of the curl without disturbing the styled hair. Exemplary of such prior art brushes are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,742, 4,191,200, 4,467,821 and 4,596,261. While these brushes do solve the problem of withdrawing the styling brush after the curl or other style is formed, they are relatively complex and expensive in construction, and/or are relatively difficult to operate.

There is need for a compact hair dryer that may be conveniently carried, that is simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to use, and that has easily replaceable styling attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a compact hair dryer that may be conveniently carried, that is simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to use, and that has easily replaceable styling attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles.

The hair dryer of the invention has a compact cylindrical shape and may be conveniently carried in a purse or similar receptacle. Further, it may be battery operated or plugged into an outlet. It can have multiple speed and temperature settings, and preferably does not produce a maximum temperature that would be injurious or uncomfortable to the user.

The attachments include a comb that has hollow teeth through which air is circulated from the blower. Movement of the teeth through wet hair while air is circulated through the teeth and into the hair facilitates the drying process and aids in detangling the hair.

Another attachment is a flexible nozzle that can be reoriented in any direction. The nozzle has hair separating fingers on its free end

The attachments also include a styling brush with retractable bristles that enable the hair to be wound around the brush to form a curl, and when it is desired to remove the brush from the styled hair a single finger or the thumb on the hand holding the dryer with brush attachment can be used to retract the bristles so that the brush can be pulled from the styled hair without disturbing it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair dryer with retractable bristle styling brush attached thereto in accordance with the invention, showing the bristles in their extended operative position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the dryer of FIG. 1, showing the air intakes at the rearward end of the dryer.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the dryer with brush attachment shown in FIG. 1, depicting the bristles of the brush in extended operative position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the dryer and brush of FIG. 3, showing the bristles in their retracted position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dryer of the invention, wherein the outlet end of the dryer housing is adapted for a friction fit with attachments to be assembled thereto.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dryer of the invention, showing a bayonet type lock for assembling attachments to the dryer.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rear portion of the brush of FIGS. 1-5, with portions broken away to show the actuating mechanism for moving the bristles between their extended and retracted positions.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the brush attachment of the invention, showing the bristles in their retracted position.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a comb attachment for use with the dryer of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible nozzle attachment for the dryer of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a side view in elevation of the flexible nozzle attachment of FIG. 12, showing the nozzle flexed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

A dryer 10 with a retractable bristle brush attachment 11 according to a first form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-9. As seen best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the dryer 10 comprises a compact cylindrical housing 12 having an open forward end 13 and a closed rearward end 14 with at least one air intake opening 15. The housing may be made of plastic, metal, or other suitable material. A power source 16, which can be one or more disposable or rechargeable batteries and/or an adapter to plug into a wall outlet, is in the rear of the housing for supplying power to a motor 17 and heater coils 18. The motor drives a fan or blower 19 that in a preferred embodiment comprises turbine-like blades. A screen or grid 20 extends across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing. In the embodiment shown the screen is recessed in the open end of the housing. Switches 22 and 23 are accessible on the exterior of the housing for actuating the blower and heater, respectively. In a preferred construction the motor and heater are relatively low power units, e.g. 1,000 watts, so that the maximum temperature of the heated air expelled by the dryer does not exceed about 140° F.

In a preferred construction the dryer is very compact and convenient to carry and use, being only about 5 to 6 inches long and 1 to 1.25 inches in diameter.

The retractable bristle brush attachment 11 also comprises a cylindrical housing 30 of approximately the same size as the housing 12 of the dryer, and has a forward closed end 31 and an open rearward end 32. The end 32 is adapted to attach to the forward open end 13 of the dryer by any suitable means, such as a friction fit as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, a bayonet connection as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, or a threaded connection (not shown) or the like. As seen best in FIGS. 3-5, 8 and 9 an elongate rod 34 extends coaxially within the housing 30 and extends slidably through and is guided and supported at its forward end by a guide disc 35 near the forward closed end of the housing. The rearward end of the rod is connected to and supported by a plurality of radially extending spokes 36 that extend outwardly from the rod and through elongate slots 37 in the side of the housing. The outer ends of the spokes are connected with an actuator ring 38 that slides longitudinally on the outside of the housing. Sealing sleeves 39 and 40 extend axially from opposite sides of the actuator ring to cover and seal the slots against loss of air through them when the blower is operating. The rod carries a plurality of brush bristles 41 that extend radially outwardly from the rod and through openings 42 in the side of the housing. When the actuator ring is moved forwardly as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bristles are pushed outwardly through the openings 42 to an extended operative position. When the actuator ring is moved rearwardly as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 9, the bristles are retracted through the openings to a retracted inoperative position. In a preferred construction the rod is a twisted wire with the bristles captured at their inner end by the twisted wire, but the rod may have any other suitable construction, such as a tube or shaft with the inner ends of clusters of bristles fixed in pockets in the tube or shaft.

An alternate attachment is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein the attachment comprises a comb 50. The back or spine 51 of the comb is hollow and has a plurality of hollow teeth 52 projecting from one side thereof. One or more openings 53 extend through the sides of the teeth, and the outer end of each tooth preferably is open at 54. One end 55 of the comb is adapted to attach to the forward end of the dryer so that when the dryer is operated air flows through the spine and outwardly through the teeth into the hair.

A further form of attachment is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In this form of the invention the attachment comprises a flexible nozzle 60 that may be bent to direct air in a desired direction. The outer end of the nozzle is constructed to form a plurality of axially projecting fingers 61 that can be used to separate the hair as it is being dried. The fingers can have a triangular shape as shown, or they can be rod shaped or have any other shape suitable for the intended purpose. The end 62 of the nozzle opposite the fingers is adapted to attach to the dryer.

Although particular embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention. 

1. A hair dryer comprising: a cylindrical body having an open forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake opening; a motor and heater coils within the housing; a power source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor and heater coils for supplying power thereto; a fan connected to be driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades; a screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said screen being recessed in the open end of the housing; switches accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively; and a retractable bristle brush attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end of the housing for flow of air from the cylindrical body and through the brush.
 2. A hair dryer comprising: a cylindrical body having an open forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake opening; a motor and heater coils within the housing; a power source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor and heater coils for supplying power thereto; a fan connected to be driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades; a screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said screen being recessed in the open end of the housing; switches accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively; and a comb attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end of the housing, said comb comprising a hollow back or spine with a plurality of hollow teeth projecting from one side thereof, said teeth having one or more openings extending through the sides thereof, so that when the dryer is operated air flows through the spine and outwardly through the teeth into the hair.
 3. A hair dryer comprising: a cylindrical body having an open forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake opening; a motor and heater coils within the housing; a power source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor and heater coils for supplying power thereto; a fan connected to be driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades; a screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said screen being recessed in the open end of the housing; switches accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively; and a flexible nozzle attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end of the cylindrical body, said nozzle attachment being bendable to direct air from the cylindrical housing in a desired direction, said nozzle attachment having an outer end constructed to form a plurality of axially projecting fingers that can be used to separate hair as it is being dried with the dryer. 